Written on
April 19, 2010 in
thought
I have been reminded that my ministry has mainly been one of uprooting and tearing down. Apparently, I’ve done an excellent job. The church is a small but vibrant community poised for good things. I have never felt it was my job to grow the church physically, but to build it spiritually. In fact, I’m not interested in church growth. I truly think that Jon, the new pastor, has the gifts for growing a church. I think there’s an excellent foundation for the next season to build upon. And even though the foundation is underground, never seen and often taken for granted, I am at peace knowing that we helped establish it and that whatever follows requires it.
Even though Lisa and I didn’t go to church yesterday, our kids did. They felt fine. People, including the new pastors, assume that once the church goes through this transition we’ll return to resume a place in the community. That may be. For now we are staying away so as not to complicate the transition. Including us, there are 3 sets of pastors who call Rothesay Vineyard their community. We are all okay with this. But we are definitely going to preserve and nurture our friendships within the community and with the new pastors. That’s agreed. And we are joyfully anticipating hearing about the new things that Rothesay Vineyard is going into without a trace of jealousy. A seed of corn does not look anything like a sprout. And a sprout looks nothing like a stalk of corn. And an ear of corn looks nothing like the stalk. But even though they look remarkably different, they are all still corn. Rothesay Vineyard, I fully expect, will look very different very soon.
And this brings me joy.
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Check out my tees HERE. I’m growing my inventory all the time. And check out my art HERE.
If you like what nakedpastor has to say, your support is appreciated.
This parable, roughly written yesterday and today, captures the story of my life and my church’s life. Here’s how it goes:
A beautiful young woman fell in love and married the perfect man. It was a famous wedding. They were the ideal couple. They had the admiration of everyone around. It was a fairy-tale wedding and a dream marriage. Things were wonderful. For about a year.
She realized, as she became more mature and self-aware, that she wanted to continue to grow and develop as a person. She wanted to discover who she was and be that person. She started to become more vocal as she spoke her mind. She was confident enough in herself and in their love to be herself and to experiment with her own chosen path of self-discovery and self-expression. At first her husband was slightly amused. But over time it developed into bafflement as he began to realize that she was indeed changing. She wasn’t the quiet, submissive woman who fell head over heels for him. She was more honest about what she thought, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
So, one day, as an attempt to re-establish order, he lashed out at her about something she said: “What are you doing? Why are you changing the rules? We had an agreement! We used to get along so well. We never used to disagree! Now you seem to question everything I say. I want things back the way they were. I want you to fulfill the vows that we wrote ourselves where you said you would always honor me and look to me as the head of our household! We were happier then! You’re the one who’s changing, not me! You’re wrecking something beautiful.” He was angry. She never saw him so furious. And it frightened her.
He was right. She was changing! She could see that she wasn’t the sweet naive girl he married. Or… was she changing? Maybe she was just becoming more confident in who she was. Maybe her true self was coming out… her true self that at first temporarily slept under the power of infatuation but was now awakening in spite of his resistance. It took a lot of courage for her to be herself. His reactions were becoming more violent and cruel. Over time things got steadily worse until she felt she had no choice. She actually began fearing for her safety. Nor could she bear the thought of living in his prison for the rest of her life. She tried to talk to him about it, but he always managed to make her feel it was all her fault. He would get angrier and angrier. So, with all the courage she could muster, she told him she was leaving. She couldn’t live with him any more. She was tired of being controlled. She wanted to be free to be herself. His rage and attempts to force her into submission only drove her further away. Then one day, to everyone’s surprise, including hers, she left. She could finally breathe the fresh air of freedom that she had risked everything to earn.
But she soon found out that freedom is costly.
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Written on
August 17, 2007 in
thought
I went on vacation this last week to Prince Edward Island. I had a great rest. The cottage we were staying in was very peaceful, on the Cardigan River. Splendid! There is a hummingbird feeder hanging on the deck and I sat out there for hours trying to get a shot like this one of the several hummingbirds that were literally warring over the feeder. None of the hummingbirds would let any of the other ones feed. As soon as one got close to the feeder, the others would dive-bomb it. It was a dangerous occupation to try to get a sip of the sweet nectar. They weren’t playing either. They could all eat, but none of them will let the other one.
At the same time I was reading a book that explained the interesting phenomena of crab-trapping. It seems that there is no logical reason why a crab cannot escape from the same hole it entered the trap by. But the problem is when the trap has other crabs in it, when one tries to escape, the others reach up and pull it back down. They all could escape, but the herd won’t let one of them escape.
I talk with several pastors. The same story: there is enormous and even violent pressure to not break away from the herd. There is unbelievable intimidation to not stretch your neck out and discover for yourself. Same with many church-goers and ex-church-goers I hear from: you are not allowed to eat your own food and you are not allowed to escape. In other words, for everyone involved… both “leaders” and “followers”, you are not allowed to grow and you are not allowed to be free. Our human world reflects the natural world. The kingdom of God indeed looks like the animal kingdom.
I’m going to eat. I’m going to let others eat. I’m going to be free and I’m going to allow others to be free. More than that: I’m going to feed and liberate others. How about you?
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Written on
July 16, 2007 in
thought
Sometimes I just don’t know. When I read the New Testament, it really isn’t that great a testimony to the strength and vitality of the early church. I mean, look at Jesus’ church, which started with 12. And at the pinnacle of his career they all pretty much abandoned him. Then there’s Paul’s record. Not very impressive. I mean he did get lots of churches off the ground, but I think most eventually disintegrated. John’s churches too. Read the gospel of John, The Revelation and the three epistles and you pretty much witness the erosion of church communities. I don’t think because they didn’t have church growth or maintenance skills, but because there’s a gene present in any biblical community that prevents it from growing into some kind of tower of Babel. I think the healthiest communities do not have the guarantee of permanence. So, here are some questions that have been floating around in my brain all day while I was painting:
- Is it possible to not put expectations on people and to grow as a church?
- Is it possible to not require people to tithe and increase the church budget?
- Is it possible to love unconditionally and have a church free of sin?
- Is it possible to allow dissent and to not divide as a community?
- Is it possible to emphasize relationship and remain authoritative as a pastor?
- Is it possible to allow authenticity in people and not have a chaotic community?
- Is it possible for non-drinkers and drinkers to fellowship genuinely?
- Is it possible to not have ambition as a church and be attractive to others?
- Is it possible to not expect people to work and also have others served?
- Is it possible to appear a dismal failure and even be on the same page as Jesus?
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings.
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Written on
June 25, 2007 in
thought
Yesterday I met with someone who asked about my message that morning. I insist that you can’t embrace the reality of the cross and pursue the security of success at the same time. I also said that we could increase the attendance at our church as well as the giving, but I can’t prioritize that with a clear conscience if I hold Jesus Christ and him crucified at the center of all I believe and do. This person asked, “What would you do, if you felt free to do it, that would increase the attendance and giving?” I’ve thought about it, and I came up with a rather cynical (yes, I know… unusual for me) list of 10 things you could do to achieve better attendance and giving:
- Don’t allow people to participate in the worship band or any other prominent, visible ministry who don’t have excellent attendance and who don’t tithe.
- Befriend the good, consistent supporters and avoid those who aren’t these things. Everyone wants to be in the inner circle.
- Reward those who give with frequent public recognition and praise.
- Teach that giving to the church is what gets God acting on our behalf.
- Always concoct the impression that something great is just about to happen so that the level of anticipation keeps people coming, expecting the special event to happen at anytime. Keep the excitement level high and eliminate the darker realities of human emotions from the service.
- Sow the idea that going to church whenever it is open is the same as being the church.
- Never be afraid to use fear or guilt as a motivator for beneficial results. You must realize that these are the greatest causes for seeing almost immediately the effects you want.
- Blame sin for the reason why people don’t advance in the church. This creates the idea that perfection is what produces promotion.
- Use incentives such as fund-raisers, pledge campaigns, bake-sales, auctions… anything that will fondle money out of people who normally wouldn’t let go of it so easily.
- Brand and market yourself and your church as wealthy, successful and positive, then play the part yourself. This will create the ethos of prosperity and success that attracts money.
Maybe you have some suggestions of your own?
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings and is from his mannequin series.
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With my tongue in my cheek, I put together this list of how to be more you. Hope they help!
- First of all, admit you are not you: unless of course you are. Then skip this whole thing.
- Get introduced: you can’t become yourself until you know who the real you is. Hardest part!
- Like what you see. No matter how repugnant or glorious the real you seems to you, you’re stuck with you, and that’s the real thing.
- Murder the masks: Detect the masks and say bye-bye to them. Shed no tears. Their death is feigned because they are phantoms.
- Don’t be dissuaded: Even those closest to you may rebel against your transformation. “I liked the old you!” “Too bad! Buried him yesterday.”
- Forgive all those who assembled and affirmed the false you for you, including you. They didn’t mean it, unless they did.
- Use every tool at your disposal to get this job done: dreams, intuitions, heart and brain. Especially your brain. This isn’t a hobby! It is 99% demolition work.
- Don’t get all snobby-spiritual about it. This is every person’s project, as naturally necessary as birth.
- However, you are transformed by the re-creation of your mind. The Spirit can help.
- Fly solo: I can’t help you! You have to do this alone.
That’s it! Light-hearted, but I think these points are important. So, get to it, and I’ll see the real you later.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend, Mark Hemmings, and it is from his Mannequins series.
If you like what nakedpastor has to say, your support is appreciated.
artist. cartoonist. teacher.
